Persecution of Catholicism on the Rise in USA

American crime statistics, furnished by the FBI, show a substantial increase in the number of “hate crimes” in which Catholics were the victims during 2008. The FBI figures showed an overall increase of 9% in the number of crimes apparently motivated by the victim’s religious faith. Jews were the group most frequently victimized, and the number of incidents involving Jewish victims rose by 17% between 2007 and 2008. But the rate of increase in anti-Catholic crimes was sharper, rising by 24% in the year.

And you wonder why I encourage my kids to prepare my grandchildren to be martyrs?

Which leads me to a question. The Catechism gives us the right to self-defense as part of the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” Yet it seems that those who have been, throughout the ages, martyrs in the Church, have refused to take up arms to defend themselves.

So what does one do anyway in such a situation? Passively accept that which happens or fight back, leaving the outcome in God’s hands?